It’s been a few weeks since I’ve penned ATL and some interesting and surprising things have occurred in the hockey world.

In Canada, the announcement of the Olympic men’s hockey team was debated heavily. I was surprised to read that the biggest outcry, outside of Flames fans moaning about the exclusion of all of their big-three D-men, was that Mike Green didn’t make the team.

Many said he was the best offensive D-man, especially as the quarterback on the powerplay. Green is a great on the powerplay and in the offensive zone, and his 46 points is tops amongst D-men. But he has 22 points on the PP, while Drew Doughty has 20 PP points for the Kings. Dan Boyle has 19, Pronger 16, Niedermayer 15, Weber 14, Keith 11 and Seabrook has six.

The Capitals have scored 43 PP goals and Green has been in on 51% of their PP goals. The Kings have 36 PP goals and Doughty has been in on 55% of them. Green plays with Alex Ovechkin, Alex Semin and Nick Backstrom on the PP, while Doughty has Anze Kopitar, Alex Frolov and when healthy Jarret Stoll and Ryan Smyth.

I like Green, but few realize how good Doughty is. His defensive game is much better than Green’s and when you look at his offence on the powerplay, don’t be surprised to see Doughty on the PP at times in the Olympics.

I was surprised Jay Bouwmeester didn’t make it, but his lack of playoff experience was probably the deciding factor. The only year he’s ever played in the playoffs was during the lockout when he played 18 games with the Chicago Wolves and registered ZERO points. In seven NHL seasons and three WHL seasons he hasn’t played in the postseason, and I have to think that was a major reason he was excluded. Not to mention no points in 18 AHL playoff games.

I’m still stunned that Patrice Bergeron made the team, but clearly Yzerman and company had good reason to choose him; I just don’t see it. His broken thumb should only keep him out another week, so barring another injury he will be in Vancouver on the 15th of February.

In the NHL Micheal Leighton is playing out of his mind in Philadelphia. He is 8-0-1 with the Flyers (although he was pulled v. Ottawa but got a no decision) and has a 2.22 GAA and a .925 SV%. I’d be stunned if he kept it up because prior to this season he’d never won more than six games and has been mostly a minor leaguer. With Ray Emery set to return the Flyers have to waive Leighton or Boucher. I think Peter Laviolette’s best option right now is to play Leighton until he comes back to reality.

Before Christmas the LA Kings were four points behind San Jose in the Pacific division and comfortably in the playoffs. Three weeks later they are 14 points behind them and precariously close to falling out of the playoffs with the Red Wings a point behind while the surging Wild is only two back. The Kings might need a shake up... Souray anyone?

Ice women of the week

Here is a photo that should cover everyone’s taste; Ginger, blonde, brunette and dark hair. The Panthers actually have 21 ice dancers, and they need all of them to keep the fans entertained because once again it looks like the Panthers won’t make the playoffs.

Candra, Sophia, Kelli (Assistant Director), Tere, Monica, Simona

Random thoughts

Can you name the four first overall picks that won the Calder Trophy and are now in the Hall of Fame? (answer at bottom)

I believe that Stephane Auger said something close to what Alexandre Burrows accused him of, but I’m more interested in what the league, or more importantly director of officiating Terry Gregson, said to Auger. I doubt we will ever know, but when the playoff assignments are handed out if Auger is there I’d be stunned. This was a case of he said he said, so it would have been impossible to convict Auger, but I doubt Burrows’ fabricated the entire story, so the league can quietly punish Auger by not giving him any playoff games. We’ll find out in April.

Blues new head coach, Davis Payne, seemed like a surprise choice until you looked at his resume. In seven seasons in the ECHL he compiled an impressive 289-142-45 record. He won a Kelly Cup Championship in 2006, and became only the second coach in ECHL history to get his team to the final four in three consecutive seasons. He’s paid his dues. And under the “did you know file”: The Oilers drafted him 140th overall in 1989. He ended up playing 22 games for Bruins over two seasons and registered one assist.

The Flames have scored more than three goals only once in their last 21 games. I don’t see them going anywhere in the playoffs if they can’t score. Only Phoenix has scored fewer goals amongst western playoff teams. I know the Flames rely on the defensive zone coverage and goaltending to win, but if they can’t score they won’t be able to shut down Chicago or San Jose and the Avalanche own them. Darryl Sutter has to be looking for some offence in the next six weeks, and if he wants a true scorer he might have to dangle Phaneuf or Regehr.

Currently Carolina is the only Eastern organization that has never had a first overall pick in the NHL entry draft. But Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, San Jose, Anaheim, Minnesota and Nashville have yet to have the first pick. The Oilers could become the first western Canadian team to have the first pick this summer.

Colorado, Phoenix, Dallas and New Jersey haven’t had the first pick in their current city but the Nordiques, Jets, North Stars and Rockies did.

The Kings have had one first overall pick and he was a bust. They chose Rick Pagnutti in 1967, and he never played a game in the NHL.

In the last 20 years the only first picks that became busts were Alexandre Daigle (1993) and Patrick Stefan (1999). Some might argue that Rick DiPietro is a bust, but injuries have been his demise.

Henrik Sedin is the leading candidate to win the Hart trophy and that could be the biggest surprise of the season. If you asked any hockey fan, media member, player, coach or GM to submit a list of their ten favourites to win at the start of the season I doubt he would have been on anyone’s list. Up until this season it was always Henrik and Daniel, rarely did you talk about one without the other. But Henrik’s play has everyone’s attention and I’m stunned how well he has played.

The Anaheim Ducks have inquired about Ethan Moreau. They have won five straight and are only four points behind the 8th place Kings. The Ducks have room to add Moreau’s salary which today would roughly be an $860,000 cap hit. It isn’t imminent but the Ducks have made some calls.

***Answer: The four first overall picks who have won the Calder and are in th Hall of Fame... Gilbert Perreault, Denis Potvin, Dale Hawerchuk and Mario Lemieux.***

Final Points

There are only three teams who look completely out of the race today; Oilers, Hurricanes and Leafs. The Blues and Blue Jackets are on the edge, but the rest of the non-playoff teams are only four points out. With so many teams still in the hunt, you have to think Jim Rutherford, Steve Tambellini and Brian Burke are fielding lots of calls. It sounds like we might see some trades prior to the Olympic break, so the players will get some extra practice days before the NHL resumes in March.

I don’t want answers in the posts today, but I’m curious what your expectations are from a reporter/media member/blogger in ethical situations. Think about it, remember the question and I will let you know why in a week or so.

One of Canada's most versatile sports personalities. Jason hosts The Jason Gregor Show, weekdays from 2 to 6 p.m., on TSN 1260, and he writes a column every Monday in the Edmonton Journal. You can follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/JasonGregor

When there are a couple of thousand empty seats on a regular basis, do you think Katz sees that as an indication that this team needs a new identity from top to bottom. But since those empties are technically paid for does he even care?

Nuts to that. We need Banks. Hell the Oil could even unretire #99 and give it to him.

@postal - yeah I don't know but I'm glad there are empty seats. I'm not buying any more tickets or PPV's and my merchandise will be kept to an absolute minimum. I'm trying to do my part in boycotting the current Oil regime.

I think it's unethical of you to ask us to remember a question for over a week. We are after all children of the Internet era and therefore have the attention spans of an easily distracted Gnat. Just sayin'...

Jason asked a question ? I'm still at the Ice Girls pic. And btw, where is all this talk about Moreau and Anaheim coming from ? ;o)